Marine propeller, propeller system and components belonging thereto, and a method of connecting a propeller

ABSTRACT

In an adapter for adapting a marine propeller to a housing part of a drive source, the adapter includes a hub-connecting side and a housing-connecting side and a portion for fastening the adapter to a propeller hub.

FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to amarine propeller of the type defined in the preamble of claim 1.According to a second aspect, the invention relates to propeller systemof the kind defined in the preamble of claim 5. According to a thirdaspect, the invention relates to an adapter means of the kind defined inthe preamble of claim 7. According to a fourth aspect, the inventionrelates to a set of adapter means of the kind defined in the preamble ofclaim 1. According to a fifth aspect, the invention relates to a methodof the kind defined in the preamble of claim 11.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Marine propellers are normally driven by a motor, or an engine,to which the propeller is connected through the medium of an outputshaft from a gearbox coupled to the motor. Such motors are manufacturedand supplied by a large number of manufacturers, wherewith eachmanufacturer gives the motor and associated gear housing his/herparticular design. This normally results in that a certain propellerwill only fit the motor of a particular manufacturer. The decisivefactor as to whether or not the propeller can be connected to a givenmotor is whether or not the output shaft from the motor gearbox can becoupled to the propeller hub, which is normally effected with the aid ofa spline coupling. Another deciding factor is whether or not thepropeller hub is configured so as to enable it to be fitted in thegearbox opening through which the drive shaft extends. The first aspectwill not normally constitute a problem, since the propeller hub isstandard for a given power class and the splines identical. On the otherhand, the connecting flange on the gearbox may have a differentconfiguration and the output shaft a different length. This is theprimary cause of the problem that resides in the propeller hub not beingadapted to the connecting flange of the gearbox and/or that the shaftextends too far or not far enough at the point where the hub shall beconnected to the gearbox.

[0003] It is known from WO 96/05101 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,842,483, forinstance, to provide an adapter between the hub splines and the shaftsplines in respect of small-craft motors that have different splinedimensions because of different drive powers, for instance, so as toenable one and the same propeller to be connected to drive shafts ofmutually different spline dimensions by appropriate adapter selection.However, the solution does not solve the problem of adapting the hub tosuit the flange of the gearbox and to the length of the drive shaft.

[0004] Seen against this background, the object of the present inventionis to enable one and the same propeller to be used with different typesof motors with regard to connecting such motors to the propeller,particularly the design of the gearbox connecting flange, and withregard to the length of shaft extending from the gearbox.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The object with respect to the first aspect has been achieved inaccordance with the invention by means of a marine propeller of the kinddefined in the preamble of claim 1 and having the particular featuresset forth in the characterising clause of said Claim. With respect tothe second, third and fourth aspects of the invention, the object hasbeen achieved with a propeller system, an adapter means, and a set ofadapter means of the kind defined in the respective preambles of claims5, 7 and 9 and having the particular features set forth in thecharacterising clauses of said respective Claims. With respect to thefifth aspect, the object is achieved with a method of the kind definedin the preamble of claim 1 and comprising the special steps and measuresset forth in the characterising clause of said claim.

[0006] Because the propeller is provided with a separate adapter elementthat is fastened detachably to the hub and has a side adapted to thegearbox flange and the shaft length, one and the same propeller can beconnected to any one of several different types of motor by appropriateselection of an adapter element. This obviates the need for a propellermanufacturer or supplier to maintain a large assortment of propellers inorder to be able to supply a particular propeller for a particularmotor. In principle, it will suffice to have one propeller in each sizeclass and a set of adapter elements that suit different types of motor.This rationalises both manufacture and storage and makes manufacture andstorage less expensive.

[0007] Because that part of the drive source housing to which thepropeller shall be connected is normally comprised of a circular flangepositioned about a shaft exit opening in the gearbox, it is suitable toprovide the housing-adapting side with an axially directed circularflange. This can then be inserted into the gearbox flange with a smallclearance and co-act with said flange to form a sealing casing aroundthe drive shaft. An adapter element of this design thus constitutes apreferred embodiment of the invention.

[0008] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, thepropeller is adjustable so as to enable the propeller blades to beadjusted to other settings in distinct steps and in unison. This widensthe field of use in respect of each type of propeller and therewithfurther contributes towards achieving the object of the invention,to-wit of reducing the number of propellers necessary in one assortment.

[0009] These embodiments and other advantageous embodiments of theinvention are set forth in the Claims dependent on claim 1.

[0010] The propeller system set forth in claims 5 and 6 constitutes animportant aspect of implementing the inventive concept, in that thesystem includes a series of adapter elements from which an appropriateadapter can be chosen.

[0011] The adapter arrangement defined in claims 7 and 8 and the set ofadapter elements defined in claims 9 and 10 constitute furtherimplementations of the inventive concept of enabling one type ofpropeller to be connected to a given type of motor through the medium ofseparate adapter elements

[0012] The method defined in claims 11 and 12 utilises the possibilityof rationalisation afforded by the inventive arrangements.

[0013] The invention will now be described in more detail with referenceto exemplifying embodiments thereof and also with reference to theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 illustrates partly in section and partly in side view apropeller according to a first embodiment of the invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an adapter element according to theinvention, said element being one of a set of such elements.

[0016]FIG. 3 illustrates partly in side view and partly in section apropeller according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERS EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates an inventive propeller that includes aplurality of propeller blades 3 fastened radially to a hub that consistsof a front hub-half 2 and a rear hub-half 1. The rear hub-half 2 isadapted for connection with a gearbox 4 which, in turn, is connected toa drive motor (not shown). The gearbox includes an output shaft 5 thathas splines which connect drivingly with corresponding splines insidethe hub. An axially facing ? circular flange 7 is mounted on the shaft5.

[0018] The propeller is connected to the gearbox with the aid of anadapter element 8 in the form of a circular ring that has a rearwardlyfacing axial flange for connection with the hub, and a forwardly facingaxial flange 11 for co-action with the gearbox flange 7. The adapterelement 8 has a central part 14 which includes a central opening 15through which the shaft extends to the hub. After having fitted thepropeller to the gearbox, the adapter element is fastened to the frontpart 2 of the hub by means of bolts 13 or the like, so that the adapterwill rotate together with the hub 1, 2 in operation. The flange 11extending towards the gearbox projects into the flange 7 on said gearboxand rotates in said gearbox with a small amount of play. Naturally, theadapter element may be fastened to the hub in some way other thanthrough the medium of the bolts 13 that hold the hub together.

[0019]FIG. 2 illustrates the adapter element 8 in more detail and showshow a series or set of such elements can be built-up. Shown in that partof the adapter element which connects the outer part 19 and the innerpart 14 together, is one of the bolt holes 16 by means of which theadapter element is fastened to the hub, and one of several exhaustpassages 17 through. which motor exhaust gases can pass.

[0020] The flange 11 on the outer ring 19 facing towards the gearbox canhave different outer diameters in respect of different adapter elements,as indicated by the broken line 11 b. The axial length of the inner part14 of the adapter element may vary in respect of different elements byvirtue of extending through respective different distances towards thegearbox, therewith adapting the abutment surface 18, 18 a of saidcentral part of the element to the length of the drive shaft inquestion. The axial extension of the outer ring 19 and/or of the flange11 may also be varied.

[0021]FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention as appliedto a propeller whose blade settings can be adjusted incrementally and inunison, said propeller being the subject of Patent Application SE9703466-4 filed on the same day as the present Application. Theroot-part 24 of each propeller blade 3 is mounted between the hub-parts1 and 2 for rotation or angular movement about an axis that extendsperpendicular to the centre axis of the propeller. Each root-part 24 isprovided with a blade setting adjustment arm 20 which extends rearwardlyin the axial direction of the propeller and received in a recess 21 inan adjusting ring 22. The ring 22 can be loosened from the hub-part 1 soas to enable the ring to be moved axially away from said hub-parttherewith enabling it to be rotated. This rotation is transmitted to theblades 3 via the recesses 21 and the arms 20, so that said blades can berotated in unison. The ring 22 can be locked to the hub-part 1 in anyone of a number of distinct positions that correspond to a plurality ofdistinct blade setting positions. The construction of this blade settingadjustment arrangement is described in more detail in the Swedish PatentApplication referred to above.

[0022] The adapter element 8 is secured to the front hub-half 2 at theforward end of the hub by means of bolts 13. The adapter element 8comprises an annular outer part 19, an annular inner part 14 andconnecting parts that connect the outer part to the inner part. Theinner part has a central opening 15 for transit of the drive motorshaft. When the propeller is fitted to the propeller shaft, the shaftextends through the opening 15 and through the hub-half 2 and into thehub-half 1 and there engages splines (not shown) on the inner surface 23of the hub-part 1.

[0023] A circular flange 11 extends forwardly and axially from the outerannular part 19 towards the gearbox and lies against a flange ofcorresponding dimensions on said gearbox. The diameter of the flange 11is thus chosen to fit against the flange on the gearbox, and the axiallength of the inner part 14 is chosen so that the drive shaft willextend sufficiently for its splines to be located opposite the splinesprovided on the inner surface of the hub-part 1. A flange 11 of correctdiameter and a part 14 of the correct length are obtained by choosingthe appropriate adapter element 8 from a series or set of such elementsas illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein each element is constructed to suitthe output shaft of known existing types of motor.

[0024] The adapter element also includes a number of axially penetratingopenings 16 located between the outer and the inner rings. Theseopenings are intended to enable motor exhaust gases to pass axiallythrough the hub.

1. A marine propeller that includes a hub (1, 2) and propeller blades(3) attached to the hub, wherein the propeller includes means forconnecting the propeller to a drive source, wherein said connectingmeans includes drive connecting means for drive connection with a drivesource (4) output shaft (5), and adapter means for adaptation to thedrive source, characterised in that the adapter means includes aseparate adapter element (8) which has a hub-connecting side and ahousing-connecting side and which can be fastened detachably to the hub(1, 2) by means of fastener devices.
 2. A propeller according to claim 1, wherein the housing-adapter element (8) includes an outer part (19)that has a circular flange (11) directed axially on thehousing-connecting side and that further includes an inner part (14)which is connected to the outer part (19) and which includes a shafttransit hole (15) coaxial with said flange, and wherein the inner part(14) has an abutment surface (18) on the housing-connection side.
 3. Apropeller according to claim 2 , wherein the housing2 adapting element(8) includes at least one axially extending through-penetrating opening(17) through which exhaust gases can pass.
 4. A propeller according toany one of claims 1-3, wherein the settings of the propeller blades (3)is adjustable in distinct increments and in unison.
 5. A propellersystem comprising a marine propeller that includes a hub (1, 2) andpropeller blades (3) attached to said hub, wherein the propeller isprovided with means for connecting the propeller to a drive source,wherein said connecting means includes drive connecting means for driveconnection with a drive source (4) output shaft (5) and adapter meansfor adaptation to the drive source, characterised in that the adaptermeans includes a separate adapter element (8) which has a hub-connectingside and a housing-connecting side and which is fastened to the hub withthe aid of fastener devices, wherein the system includes a series (8, 8a, 8 b) of said adapter elements where each adapter element (8, 8 a, 8b) in the series differs from the remaining adapter elements withrespect to the housing adaptation side.
 6. A system according to claim 5, wherein each housing adaptation element (8, 8 a, 8 b) includes anouter part (19) having a circular flange (11, 11 b) directed axially tothe housing-connecting side, and further includes an inner part (14, 14a) which is connected to said outer part and which includes a shafttransit hole (15) coaxial with said flange, wherein the inner part (14,14 a) on the housing-connecting side has an abutment surface (18, 18 a)and wherein each housing adaptation element (8, Ba, 8 b) differs fromremaining elements in said series with respect to the outer diameter ofthe flange (11, 11 b) and/or the axial extension of the centre part (14,14 a).
 7. An adapter means for adapting a marine propeller to a housingpart of a drive source, characterised in that the adapter meanscomprises a separate adapter element (8) which has a hub-connecting sideand a housing adaptation side and which is provided with means forfastening said element to a propeller hub.
 8. An adapter means accordingto claim 7 , wherein the housing adapter element (8) includes an outerpart (19) that has a circular flange (11) directed axially on thehousing-connecting side, and further includes an inner part (14) whichis connected to the outer part (19) and has a shaft transit hole (15)coaxial with the flange (19), said inner part (14) having an abutmentsurface (18) on the housing-connecting side.
 9. A set of adapter meansfor adapting a marine propeller to a housing part of a drive source,characterised in that said set includes a series of separate adapterelements (8, 8 a, 8 b) each having a hub connecting side and ahousing-connecting side and capable of being fastened to a propeller hub(1, 2) with the aid of fastener devices, wherein each adapter element(8, 8 a, 8 b) in said series differs from the remaining elements in saidseries with respect to the housing-connecting side.
 10. A set accordingto claim 9 , wherein each housing adapter element (8, 8 a, 8 b) includesan outer part (19) that has a circular flange (11, 11 b) directedaxially on the housing-connecting side, and further includes an innerpart (14, 14 a) which is connected to said outer part and which has ashaft transit hole (15) coaxial with the flange (11, 11 b), wherein saidinner part (14, 14 a) has an abutment surface (18, 18 a) on thehousing-connecting side, and wherein each adapter element differs fromthe remaining elements in said series with regard to the outer diameterof the flange (11, 11 b) and/or the axial extension of said inner part(14).
 11. A method of connecting a marine propeller to a drive source,characterised by using a separate adapter element which has a side thatis adapted for connection with a drive source housing part, and byfastening the adapter element to the propeller hub and thereafterconnecting the propeller and adapter element to the drive source.
 12. Amethod according to claim 11 , wherein the adapter element used is onechosen from a series of such elements in dependence of the type of drivesource concerned, wherein the elements included in said series differfrom one another with respect to the side adapted for co-action with thehousing part.